The mutilated, gutted corpses of 300 thresher sharks were found by the roadside. According to Mexican officials, the sharks had been legally fished and were being delivered to Mexico City when the truck was intercepted by vandals; it is suggested that the sharks were already dead, possibly meant to be used as food.

This is a horrifying example of why sharks should be a protected species. In recent years, sharks have been poached for their fins, killed by reckless boaters, or exploited for selfies by tourists. The species has suffered a reputation as ‘dangerous’ and ‘predatory’ for decades, but in truth they are highly vulnerable due to the aforementioned factors plus the onset of climate change negatively impacting marine life. The sharks were most likely fished for their fins, and gutted for sheer sport, both of which are atrocities.

These sharks did not deserve to die such horrible deaths. Thresher sharks are not a protected species in Mexico, but they should be. Marine wildlife in general has suffered endangerment and near-extinction for years, and sharks could be the next to go if tighter laws are not enforced. Sign this petition to ban the fishing of thresher sharks in Mexico.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear President Peña Nieto,

Thieves intercepted a truck carrying 300 thresher sharks, whose corpses were badly mutilated and dumped at the side of the road. Reportedly, these sharks were legally fished, likely meant to be sold as food. Despite their predatory reputation, sharks are vulnerable creatures; not only do people kill them for their fins, but several have been killed by reckless boating or harassed by tourists for selfies recently.

This incident is an atrocity. Not only must you find and punish the culprits responsible for dumping the corpses at the side of the road, you must ban the fishing of thresher sharks from here on out. Marine wildlife overall is being horribly threatened by poachers, overfishing, and climate change, and sharks could very well follow species such as whales into near-extinction. Ban fishing and declare thresher sharks a protected species now.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Jun V Lao

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Remember the “old adage the extinction of one is the extinction of the other.” If we keep committing all these abuses, one day the extinction of us will occur. Well, I guess that doesn’t sound too bad… Do better!